Conveyor chain

ABSTRACT

A conveyor chain includes a pair of spaced-apart links. A pair of bifurcated load-conveying hanger members have arms which are received in openings formed in the links. The arms are secured together and have surfaces which engage surfaces of the links in an abutting relationship and thereby support the hanger members.

United States Patent [72] Inventor George R. Pipes South Euclid, Ohio (21] Appl. Nov 887,862

221 Filed Dec. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Eaton Yale I; Town Inc.

Cleveland, Ohio [54] CONVEYOR CHAIN 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl.. 198/177 B65g17/20 FieldoiSenrch .1 198/177,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.23,658 5/1953 Gaboury 198/]77 Re. 25,8519/1965 .lorgensen 4. 198/177 2,789,685 4/1957 Orwin H H 198/177 3,422,950 1/1969 Bachmann. 198/177 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter AttorneyYount and Tarolli ABSTRACT: A conveyor chain includes a pair of spacedapart links. A pair of bifurcated load-conveying hanger members have arms which are received in openings formed in the links. The arms are secured together and have surfaces which engage surfaces of the links in an abutting relationship and thereby support the hanger members.

PATENTEU Aucio m SHEET 1 BF 2 FIGJ INVENTOR GEORGE A. P/PBS' ATTORNEYS PATENTED AUG 1 0 I97! SHEET 2 BF 2 mm Wm.

ATTORNEYS CONVEYOR CHAIN The present invention relates to a new and improved conveyor chain, and more specifically to a load carrier which may be easily engaged with or disengaged from a conveyor chain.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved simple load carrier for use in association with a conveyor chain and which is easily and quickly engageable or disengageable with or from the conveyor chain so that a plurality of load carriers can be easily arranged in various spaced-apart relationships along the conveyor chain and which includes a plurality of parts of identical construction.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved conveyor chain having a pair of spacedapart links having openings formed therein and a pair of bifurcated load-conveying hanger members having arms insertable into the openings formed in the links and wherein the arms have surfaces which abut surfaces on the links so that the arms are supported thereby and move therewith.

A further object of the presentinvention is to provide a new and improved load carrier for use in association with a conveyor chain having a pair of spaced-apart chain links with openings formed therein and which include first and second members each of which include a body portion, a pair of spaced-apart arms which project outwardly from each of the body portions, one of the arms of each of the first and second members includes a transversely extending shoulder portion which is in abutting engagement with one of the links to operatively connect the first and second members with the chain links, a load-carrying arm which projects outwardly from each of the body portions of the first and second members and a load-carrying member disposed on an end of the load-carrying arms for engaging with a load and moving the load in response to movement of the conveyor chain.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved load carrier, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, wherein each of the body portions of the first and second members includes stop surfaces thereon for engaging with retaining surfaces on the one of the link members and wherein the stop surfaces and retaining surfaces cooperate to prevent pivotal movement of the first and second members relative to the chain links so that the load carrier is rigidly secured to the conveyor chain and moves therewith.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and wherein:

FIG. I is a side view of the present invention showing a load carrier in a position in which it is not engaged with a load in full lines and showing the load carrier engaged with the load in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the load carrier and conveyor chain assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of a portion of the load carrier and conveyor chain taken approximately along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side crosssectional view of the load carrier and conveyor chain taken approximately along the lines 4-4 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the openings of the chain link illustrated in FIG. 3.

The present invention relates to a conveyor chain having a pair of spaced-apart links and'more specifically to a load carrier which is quick and easily engaged with or disengaged from the links of the conveyor chain. The load carrier includes a pair of bifurcated load-conveying hanger members having arms thereon which are receivable in the openings formed in the links of the conveyor chain and cooperate with the links for movement therewith. This construction enables the load carrier to be easily connected to or disconnected from the conveyor chain and, therefore, a plurality of load-carrying members can be easily arranged in various spaced locations along the conveyor chain.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conveyor chain 10 for moving a plurality of load-carrying assemblies 30 along the track 12 is illustrated. The conveyor chain 10 includes a plurality of link members 14 and 16 which are operable to engage with the load-carrying assemblies 30 to effect movement of the loadcarrying assemblies 30. The conveyor chain 10 also includes a plurality of roller assemblies 18. The roller assemblies 18 each include a pair of rollers 22 and 24, more fully illustrated in FIG. 3, which are supported on an axle 26 for rotation.

The axle 26 is rigidly supported by the frame 28 of the roller assembly 18. The frame 28 includes a pair of cylindrical openings 32 therein which are located on either end thereof. The cylindrical openings 32 of the frame 28 are disposed ad jacent circular openings 34 formed in the upper and lower links 14 and 16. A pin 20 is received in the cylindrical opening 32 in the frame member 28 and projects through the circular openings 34 in the links 14 and 16. The pin 20 has a head portion 21 located on either end thereof and which flexibly interconnects the spaced apart chain links 14 and I6 with the roller assembly 18. Thus, it should be apparent that the roller assembly 18 supports the links 14 and 16 for movement in the track 12 and that the links I4 and 16 may pivot about the pin 20 and relative to the roller assembly 18. The construction enables the conveyor chain 10 to move along the track I2 which may have various curved sections therein.

The rollers 22 and 24 are operable to support the chain 10 for movement in the conveyor track 12. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the rollers 22 and 24 engage with the bottom 13 of the track I2 and rotate about the axle 26 as the chain moves through the conveyor track 12 to thereby prevent engagement of the link members I4 and 16 with the track 12 and facilitate movement of the conveyor chain through the track.

Located between the links 14 and 16 is a roller 36 which is supported on an axle 38. The axle 38 is rigidly supported by the link members 14 and 16 and provides for rotation of the roller 36 relative thereto. The roller 36 rotates about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis about which the rollers 22 and 24 rotate. The roller 36 is operable to engage with the sides 15 of the track 12 and inhibit lateral movement of the conveyor chain 10 as it moves through the track 12.

The load-carrying assemblies 30 move with the conveyor chain I0 as the chain moves through the track 12 and are operable to engage with the loads and effect movement of the load. In the present embodiment as illustrated in FIG. I, the load includes a carrier or bogie 42. The bogie 42 includes a body portion 44 which supports a bar 60 at the lower end thereof. The bar 60 is operable to have suitable articles attached thereto. If desired, a plurality of bogies can be interconnected to form a load. The opposite end of the body portion 44 has a plate member 46 suitably attached thereto. The plate member 46 supports a pair of rollers 48 and 50 which rotate about the axles 52 and 54, respectively, which are suitably supported by the plate 46. The rollers 48 and 50 are disposed in a track 40 which is located immediately below and adjacent to the track I2 in which the conveyor chain 10 moves. The rollers 48 and 50 support the bogie 42 for movement relative to the track 40 and facilitate the movement of the bogie 42 by the load carrier 30.

The plate 46 of the bogie 42 also supports a roller 56. The roller 56 rotates about an axle 58 which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rollers 48 and 50, and it should be apparent that the roller 56 inhibits lateral movement of the plate member 46 and the body 44 of the bogie 42 relative to the track 40 as the bogie 42 moves therethrough.

The plate 46 of the bogie 42 includes a hooked portion 62 on one end thereof which is engaged by the load-carrying assembly 30 as the load-carrying assembly 30 moves past the bogie 42. When the load-carrying assembly 30 moves past the bogie 42, the load-carrying assembly will engage with the hooked portion 62 and effect movement of the bogie 42 along the track 40.

The load-carrying assembly 30 includes a pair of bifurcated load-conveying hanger members 70 and 72 which are located in a contiguous relationship, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The members 70 and 72 are of identical construction, and each includes a body portion 78. The member 70 includes parallel arms 74 and 76 which project from the body portion 78. The arm 74 is longer than the arm 76 for a purpose to be described hereinbelow. The member 72 also includes a long arm 75 and a short arm 77 which project from the body 78 thereof. A load-carrying arm 80 also projects outwardly from the body 78 of each member 70, 72 in a direction which is opposite from the direction the spaced apart parallel arms project therefrom.

The load-carrying arm 80 defined by both of the hanger members 70 and 72 is operatively connected with a load-carrying member 82 by a pivot pin 84 which extends through a yoke portion 87 of the load-carrying member 82 so that the load-carrying member 82 is pivotable about the pivot pin 84. A coil spring 89 is disposed between a shoulder 91 formed on the load-carrying member 82 of the load carrying assembly 30. The spring 89 is an expansion spring and exerts a force on the shoulder 91 of the load-carrying member 82 to continually bias the load-carrying member 82 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 84. The lad-carrying member 82 includes a hooked portion 86 at one end thereof which is engageable with the hooked portion 62 of the plate 46 of the bogie 42. When the hooked portion 86 is engaged with hooked portion 62, the load-carrying assembly 30 will be operatively connected with the bogie 42 to effect movement of the bogie 42 along the track 40 as the load-carrying assembly 30 and the chain move through the track 12.

Each of the members 70 and 72 are operable to be inserted in openings in the links 14 and 16 of the chain 10. The lower link 14 includes a pair of openings 88 and 92 which are spaced apart thereon in the direction of movement of the chain and the upper link 16 includes a pair of openings'90 and 94 which are spaced apart thereon in the direction of movement of the chain and which are located directly above the openings 88 and 92 on the lower link 14, respectively. The openings 88 and 90 are aligned and form a first set of openings and the openings 92 and 94 are aligned and form a second set of openings.

The longer arm 74 of the member 70 is constructed to be inserted into the opening 88 of the lower link member 14 and the opening 90 of the upper link member 16 and the short arm 76 of the member 70 is constructed to be inserted into the opening 92 of the lower link 14. The large arm 75 of the member 72 is constructed to be inserted into the opening 92 of the lower link 14 and the opening 94 of the upper link 16 and the small arm 77 of the member 72 is constructed to be inserted into the opening 88 of the lower link 14.

The links l4, 16 are identical in construction and the openings formed in the links [4 and 16 for receiving the arms of the hanger members have an L-shaped configuration. The longer arms 74 and 75 extend through the longer leg portion of the L-shaped openings, while the shorter arms 76, 77 extend through the shorter leg portion of the openings, as best shown in FIG. 5.

The longer arm 74 of the hanger member 70 includes a transversely extending shoulder portion 144 which is engageable with a support surface portion 98 of the link 16 and which is located adjacent the opening 90. The large arm 75 of the hanger member 72 also includes a transversely extending shoulder portion 145 which is engageable with a support surface portion 99 of the link 16 and which is located adjacent the opening 94. The support surface portions 98, 99 cooperate with the shoulders I44, 145 to prevent pivotal movement of the hanger members when the arms 74, 75 are in the openings of the link members and support the hanger members thereon.

Moreover, the small arm 76 of the hanger member 70 includes a stop surface I00 which is located on one edge thereof which is engageable with a retaining surface 102, formed on one of the outermost end surfaces of the opening 92. The small arm 77 of the hanger 72 also includes a stop surface 101 on one edge thereof which is engageable with a retaining surface 103 formed on one of the outermost end surfaces of the opening 88. The stop surfaces I00 and i101 engage with the retaining surfaces 102 and 103 of the lower link 14 when the hanger members 70 and 72 are disclosed within the openings of the links 14 to prevent relative movement and rotation of the hanger members relative to the links 14. The arms 74 and 75 of the hanger members, respectively, also include stop surfaces 104 and 105, respectively, thereon which are engageable with the outermost end surfaces 124 and 132 of the openings 90 and 94, respectively. The end surfaces I24 and 132 function as retaining surfaces and cooperate with the stop surfaces 104 and 105, respectively, to prevent rotation of the hanger members 70 and 72 relative to the links 14 and 16.

The body portion 78 of the load-carrying assembly 30 has a recess 1110 located therein which is operable to receive one end of the axle 38 upon which the roller 36 is supported. Surrounding the recess upon are stop surfaces H2 which are located on either side thereof and which are operable to en' gage with the outside surface portion 114 of the lower link 14. The surfaces 112 engage with the surfaces N4 of the link 14 to further prevent pivotal movement of the member 70 relative to the links 14 and 16. Thus, it should be apparent that when the arms of the hanger members are received in the openings formed in the links, the load-carrying assembly 30 will be rigidly supported thereby and vibration and movement of the assembly relative to the chain will be minimized.

When the hanger members are received in the openings in the links 14 and 16, the pin 84 prevents relative movement therebetween. Each of the hanger members 70 and 72 are inserted in the openings so that the long arm thereof is inserted first through the openings until the shoulder portion thereon engages with the support surface on the upper link 16. When this occurs, the hanger member is rotated until the short arm thereof is received in the opening formed in the lower link 14 and the stop surface thereon engages with the retaining surface located on the lower link. When the members 70 and 72 are located in the openings and the stop surfaces thereon are engaged with the retaining surfaces of the links, the pin 84 is positioned in the opening 85 in the outwardly projecting loadcarrying arm and the load-carrying member 72 is pivotally attached to the hanger members 70 and 72. After the pin 84 is inserted through the outwardly projecting load-carrying arm 80, pivotal movement of the hanger members 70 and 72 relative to each other is prevented and the load carrying member 30 will be secured to the chain link for movement therewith.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the load-carrying assembly 20 is engageable in the openings in the links 14 and 16 of the chain 18. The load-carrying assembly 30 then moves as the chain 10 progresses through the track 12. As the chain progresses through the track, it is desirable for the loadcarrying assembly 30 to engage with a bogie that is disposed in the track 40 which is disposed immediately below the track 12. To this end, the load-carrying assembly 30 includes a hooked portion 86 on one end of the load-carrying member 82 which is operable to engage with the hooked portion 62 of the plate 46 of the bogie 42. When the hooked portion 86 is engaged with the hooked portion 62, movement of the bogie 42 will be effected along the track 40 as the loadcarrying assembly 30 is moved along the track 12 by the conveyor chain 10.

Preferably, a plurality of bogies 42 are provided in a closely spaced relationship at a pickup station. The conveyor chain D0 will then pass over the pickup station and will include a plurality of load-carrying assemblies 30 thereon which will sequentially engage with the bogies and effect movement thereof from the pickup station. The load-carrying assembly 30 is operable to engage with the last bogie that is passed over in a line of bogies, if the bogies are in a closely spaced relationship. This is due to the fact that in order for the hooked portion 86 of the load-carrying member 82 to engage with the hooked portion 62 of the plate 46 of the bogie 42, the spring 89 must effect a clockwise rotation of the load-carrying member 82 about the pivot pin 84. If the bogies are arranged in a closely spaced relationship, it should be apparent that the lower edge of the load-carrying member 84 will engage with the upper portion 47 of the plate 46 and clockwise movement of the load-carrying member 82 about the pivot pin 84 will be prevented. Thus, the spring 89 will only effect a clockwise rotation of the load-carrying member 82 when the load-carrying member approaches the last bogie 42 in a line of bogies. This is due to the fact that the surface portion 120 will no longer engage with a part of the plate 46 of the bogie 42. Therefore, the load-carrying member 82 will pivot about the pivot pin 84 and the hooked portion 86 of the member 82 will engage with the hooked portion 62 of the plate 46 and the bogie will be moved with the load carrying assembly 30.

It should be apparent from the foregoing, that the hanger members 70 and 72 are easily engaged or disengaged with or from the links 14 and to of the conveyor chain 10. To remove the load-carrying assembly from the conveyor 10, it is necessary only to remove the pin 84 from the outwardly projecting load-carrying arm 80 and then rotate the members 70 and 72 relative to each other so as to enable the shoulders thereon to be removed from the openings in the link 16. When the shoulders are free from the openings in the link 16, the members 70 and 72 may be easily removed from the links. Moreover, since the construction of the conveyor chain 10 is a repetitive construction, it should be apparent that a plurality of links will be disposed thereon, and that the hanger member can be located in any of a plurality of positions on the conveyor chain 10.

What I claim is: I

l. A conveyor chain comprising link means having openings therein spaced in the direction of chain movement, a first hanger member having a first arm portion insertable into one opening and a second arm portion insertable into another opening, a second hanger member having a first arm portion insertable into said one opening and a second arm portion insertable into said other opening, said first and second arm portions and said link means having cooperating portions which engage to support said first and second hanger members by said link means, and means for connecting said first and second hanger members when supported by said link means to prevent removal of said first and second hanger members from said link means.

2. A conveyor chain as defined in claim I wherein the openings are of an L-shaped configuration and one arm of each of said hanger members is insertable into one leg portion of each L-shaped opening.

3. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 2 wherein said hanger members further have an outwardly projecting loadcarrying member thereon which projects therefrom and which is engageable with a load.

4. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 3 wherein said loadcarrying member is pivotally connected with said hanger members by a pivot pin and further including a spring means which is interconnected between said load-carrying member and said hanger members so as to continually bias said leadcarrying member relative thereto.

5. A conveyor chain as defined in claim I wherein said cooperating portions include a transversely extending shoulder portion disposed on one arm of each of said hanger members for abuttingly engaging with a support surface portion on said link means.

6. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 1 wherein one arm of each of said hanger members includes a stop surface thereon which is engageable with a retaining surface which in part defines a portion of the opening formed in said link means which receives the one arm to prevent rotational movement of said hanger members relative to said link means.

7. A load carrier for use in association with a conveyor chain having a pair of spaced-apart chain links, each chain link having a pair of openings spaced apart in the direction of chain movement with one opening in one link overlying one opening in the other link to provide a first set of aligned openings and with another opening in one link overlying another opening in the other link to provide a second set of aligned openings, said load carrier comprising a first member having a body portion and a pair of arms projecting therefrom, one of said arms being longer than the other and insertable through the first set of aligned openings and the other arm being insertable into one of the openings of the second set of aligned openings, a second member having a body portion and a pair of arms projecting therefrom, one of said arms being longer than the other and insertable through the second set of aligned openings and said other arm of said second member being insertable into one of the aligned openings of the first set of aligned openings, each of said longer arms including a transversely extending shoulder portion thereon which is disposable in abutting engagement with the outer side of one of the chain links to thereby support its associated member, and means carried by said body portion and projecting in a direction away from the chain links and adapted to be operatively connected with a load to be moved with the chain.

8. A load carrier as defined in claim 7 further including a stop surface on each of said arms for engaging with retaining surfaces which in part define the openings in the chain links so as to retain said first and second members against rotational movement relative to the chain links.

9. A load carrier as defined in claim 8 wherein said body portion of each of said first and second members includes stop surfaces thereon for engaging with retaining surfaces on one of the links to further prevent rotation of said first and second members relative to the chain links.

10. A load carrier as defined in claim 9 wherein said body portions of said first and second members each include a recess thereon which is disposed adjacent the one link and which is operable to receive a head portion of an axle which supports a roller which prevents lateral movement of the conveyor chain.

II. A load carrier as defined in claim [0 wherein said large arm of said first and second members extend on diametrically opposite sides of the roller which prevents lateral movement of the conveyor chain.

12. A load carrier as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said large arms of said first member is contiguous to said smaller arm of said second member and said large arm of said second member is contiguous to said smaller arm of said first member when said arms are inserted in the openings in the chain links. 

1. A conveyor chain comprising link means having openings therein spaced in the direction of chain movement, a first hanger member having a first arm portion insertable into one opening and a second arm portion insertable into another opening, a second hanger member having a first arm portion insertable into said one opening and a second arm portion insertable into said other opening, said first and second arm portions and said link means having cooperating portions which engage to support said first and second hanger members by said Link means, and means for connecting said first and second hanger members when supported by said link means to prevent removal of said first and second hanger members from said link means.
 2. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 1 wherein the openings are of an L-shaped configuration and one arm of each of said hanger members is insertable into one leg portion of each L-shaped opening.
 3. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 2 wherein said hanger members further have an outwardly projecting load-carrying member thereon which projects therefrom and which is engageable with a load.
 4. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 3 wherein said load-carrying member is pivotally connected with said hanger members by a pivot pin and further including a spring means which is interconnected between said load-carrying member and said hanger members so as to continually bias said load-carrying member relative thereto.
 5. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating portions include a transversely extending shoulder portion disposed on one arm of each of said hanger members for abuttingly engaging with a support surface portion on said link means.
 6. A conveyor chain as defined in claim 1 wherein one arm of each of said hanger members includes a stop surface thereon which is engageable with a retaining surface which in part defines a portion of the opening formed in said link means which receives the one arm to prevent rotational movement of said hanger members relative to said link means.
 7. A load carrier for use in association with a conveyor chain having a pair of spaced-apart chain links, each chain link having a pair of openings spaced apart in the direction of chain movement with one opening in one link overlying one opening in the other link to provide a first set of aligned openings and with another opening in one link overlying another opening in the other link to provide a second set of aligned openings, said load carrier comprising a first member having a body portion and a pair of arms projecting therefrom, one of said arms being longer than the other and insertable through the first set of aligned openings and the other arm being insertable into one of the openings of the second set of aligned openings, a second member having a body portion and a pair of arms projecting therefrom, one of said arms being longer than the other and insertable through the second set of aligned openings and said other arm of said second member being insertable into one of the aligned openings of the first set of aligned openings, each of said longer arms including a transversely extending shoulder portion thereon which is disposable in abutting engagement with the outer side of one of the chain links to thereby support its associated member, and means carried by said body portion and projecting in a direction away from the chain links and adapted to be operatively connected with a load to be moved with the chain.
 8. A load carrier as defined in claim 7 further including a stop surface on each of said arms for engaging with retaining surfaces which in part define the openings in the chain links so as to retain said first and second members against rotational movement relative to the chain links.
 9. A load carrier as defined in claim 8 wherein said body portion of each of said first and second members includes stop surfaces thereon for engaging with retaining surfaces on one of the links to further prevent rotation of said first and second members relative to the chain links.
 10. A load carrier as defined in claim 9 wherein said body portions of said first and second members each include a recess thereon which is disposed adjacent the one link and which is operable to receive a head portion of an axle which supports a roller which prevents lateral movement of the conveyor chain.
 11. A load carrier as defined in claim 10 wherein said large arm of said first and second members extend on diametrically opposite sides of the roller which prevents lateral Movement of the conveyor chain.
 12. A load carrier as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said large arms of said first member is contiguous to said smaller arm of said second member and said large arm of said second member is contiguous to said smaller arm of said first member when said arms are inserted in the openings in the chain links. 